Ring lock



Jam-I2, 194-3. s. SEGAL 2,307,808

RING LOCK Filed Oct. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. '12, 1943. SEGAL 2307 808 RING LOCK Filed Oct. 51, 1940 2 Sizeets-Sneet 2 INVENT ER BYgz ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNETED STATES PATENT DFFICE RING LOCK Samuel Segal, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Applicationflctober 31, 1940, Serial No. 363,759

13 Claims.

- The present invention deals with key chains and more particularly is directed to novellocking means for key rings carried by the chains. Important objects and salient functional and structural features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a key chain, particularly illustrating the key ring or holder carried thereby.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the ring holder.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the rings of the holder shifted to open positions.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ring holder shown partly in section.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views on the line 6-6 and l-l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a partly sectional view of a modified ring holder.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of another modified ring holder.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line iii-H3 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line Hll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of another form of holder.

Fig. 13 is a broken side view of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View on the line i l-44 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 illustrates another ring holder shown partly in section. a

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15 depicting the loop carried by the ring holder unlocked, and

Fig. 17 is a sectional View on the line ll-ll of Fig. 15.

The ring holder according to Figs. 1-7 is characterized by a hollow cylindrical casing Ill having at its upper end alined slots II and at its lower end the alined openings or bearings I2.

Slidably mounted and guided within the bore of casing I0 is a locking cylindrical tumbler I4 having the diametrically arranged slot or channel l5 communicating with the alined openings l6 disposed perpendicularly to slot l5.

Surrounding casing i0 is the vertically displaceable cylindrical sleeve l! which includes alined openings l8 disposed in alinement with alined openings it of tumbler l4 and these openof the bail or ring 20 swingably attached to the chain 2! having a conventional locking ring 22 which may be conveniently attached to a belt strap 23 of a garment as is Well understood.

Fixedly carried by the upper end of the tubular casing Ill is the diametrically arranged stop pin 24 which is normally disposed below but in vertical alinement with slot iii of tumbler l4 and in the diametrically extending bore defined by the openings it and in between terminals IQ of the ring 26.

Within the bore of the casing in is the helicoidal spring 25 which holds the bottom part of the bore 26 defined by openings [6 against stop pin 24 fixed to casing I0.

By the present arrangement terminals ll) of the swingable bail or ring 20 slidably fit into alined openings l6 and I8 and also slidably ex-.

tend through the alined slots l l and may be said to couple the outer slidable sleeve H with the inner slidably guided tumbler I l. Thus with the bail 20 or loop in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, terminals l9, although disposed on both sides of the fixed pin 24 which serves as a stop for these terminals are in fact in openings I6 and are adapted to be shifted downwardly relative to the casing Ill when the bail 20 has been likewise shifted downwardly relative to the casing Ill for actuating the outside sleeve l1 away from the upper part of the casing ll). Or in other words if the pin 24 is between terminals l9, pin 24 prevents lateral displacement of ring 2!} to preclude the projection of gap 21 defined by terminals I9 outside of the holder until ring 2!] is depressed which action concomitantly depresses both the outer sleeve H and inner tumbler M away from the top of casing l0 in'which instant spring 25 is compressed by tumbler M against the locked lower tumbler 30. i Having depressed the bail 20 to shift abutment or stop pin 24 into the upper part of slot l5, bail 29 becomes free of the locking or stop pin 23 and consequently may be shifted laterally of the casing Ill, the tumbler l4 and sleeve ll whereby ends l9 are arranged to one side of and outside casing l0 (Fig. 4). It follows that the chain 2! or even keys or the like may be readily threaded on bail or ring 20, thereafter the bail is moved in a direction for shifting the spaced terminals it within the interior of the casing H] and when gap 2'! becomes alined with pin-24, spring 25 expands shifting both tumbler l4 and sleeve ll upwardly towards the upper end of the casing l0 but relative to terminals l9. Hencethe bail l e r a p t slid ly ide terminals 1S although pivotally or rotatably sustained rela-.

tive to the casirg Ill in the alined openings or bearings l5 and I8, is now locked by pin 24 against lateral displacement until the bail is again actuated for depressing both the sleeve and tumbler simultaneously as hereinbefore described for unlocking the ball.

The lower bail or loop 3| has its ends or terminals 32 swingably or rotatably disposed in the lower openings or bearings E2 in the casing l0, which ends are swingably retained in such relation by the shoulders 33 of the locking depressible tumbler 36 when these ends 32 are disposed in the grooves or sockets 34 therein on both sides of the attenuated web 35 which constitutes means to prevent gap 36 to be shifted out of the casing l0 when opening or slot 31 in web 35 is completely out of registration with the terminals 32.

Normally web 35 has its opening 3'! completely out of registration with terminals 32 of the bail M (Fig. 2). Hence the bail may be swingably locked by shoulders 33 of the shiftable tumbler due to the action of the expanded spring 25. However the tumbler or manipulator 30 is slidably guided in the bore of casing l6 and may be shifted against the resistance of spring 25 upon the application of finger pressure to head 33 thereof. Hence ends 32 are caused to line up completely with opening or slot 31 and consequently the bail becomes unlocked and may be shifted to arrange gap 36 out of easing ID in which case a key 39 may be quickly threaded on the bail. Thereafter the bail may be again arranged to its locked position by shifting the same to dispose terminals 32 inwardly of the casing ID at which time lip 49. of web automatically snaps into gap 36 whereby terminals 32 rotatably straddle stop lip 40 at which time spring 25 expands thus holding tumbler 30 yieldingly against terminals 32.

In the form according to Fig. 8 the upper. and lower rings or bails are swingably or rotatably retained by slidable tumblers of. the type shown at the lower part of Fig. 2 and the same may be said of the lower rings illustrated in. Figs. 9, 10, 12 and 13. However in the form accordingto Figs. 9 and 10, the upper bail has its ends [9 retained in a displaceable tube normally held raised by spring 25. In this raised relation projection 46 of the casing Wis disposed in opening 41 of. tube 45 and since projection 46 extends. into gap 21 of the terminals l9 and since the latter normally straddle the projection or lip 46,v the bail may be considered as locked against lateral displacement, preventing at this time the dis- H position of gap 21 outside of casing H].

In instances where it is desired to unlock the bail or loop to permit the insertion of a key thereon or the removal of a key therefrom,v the bail 20 is first depressed. Hence ends l9 move downwardly in guide slot 48 of the casing and tube is depressed against the resistance of spring. 25. The opening 41 also leaves lip or projection 46. It follows that the ends I9 of the bail, or loop are now free to be slidably moved out of the floating tube 45 to be arranged outside of the casing in which instant a key may be threaded on the bail or removed therefrom as desired. Pursuant to this operation, the ends of the bail are moved inwardly of the casing at a time when the spring is held. depressed so that the ends 19 may be arranged at the ends of tube 45' after which the bail is allowed to retract whereby projection 46 interlocks withthe wall of opening 41, hence locking the bail- 20 against lateral displacement, thus guarding against accidental unlocking thereof.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 12-14, the loop or ring is swingably or rotatably sustained by casing I0 by the shiftable controlled locking tumbler of the type shown in connection with Figs. 1-9, however it is held normally yieldingly against the rotatable terminals or ends 32 by the helicoidal spring 25 acting against flanges or shoulders 56 of the stem 5| which is suitably fixed to the manipulator or tumbler 30. Spring 25 surrounds the attenuated stem 5| which is vertically guided in the bore of casing H]. The stem also includes a hook 52 on which one end the chain 2! is retained as desired.

In the form according to Figs. 15 and 16, the hollow casing I0 or locking means for the bail or loop 3! extends widthwise thereof and is vertically guided by the uninterrupted arm 60 fitting into slot or opening 66' at one end of the casing and by the interrupted arm 62 embodying the spaced terminals 32. In Figs. 15 and 16, the locking tumbler 3B is of the type illustrated in Figs 1-14 and the upper portion 40 of the web thereof interlocks with terminals 32. Where access is desired to gap 36, tumbler 36 is shifted inwardly against the resistance of spring 25, thus removing portion 46. out of gap 36. Thereafter the slidably guided locking casing l-O is shifted upwardly along arms 6| and 62, thus positioning gap 36 to one side of the casing hence allowing the insertion or removal of a key on or from loop 3!. Subsequently the casing is bodily shifted downwardly and the tongue 66 automatically snaps into gap 36, thus causing the casing to be locked against eiiective unlocking displacement relative to the loop or'ringwhich embodies at its upper end the contracted inverted U-shaped portion on which chain 2l is threaded. However atthe completion of the locking relation of tongue or web 40 of the tumbler with the terminals 32 of the loop, casing H3 is substantially at the lower part of. the loop.

In all the forms illustrated, a loop or ring is normally held interlocked with a part of a web or attenuated part thereof fitting removably into a gap defined by adjacent free terminals ofthe loop and in allinstances the web extends from a spring controlled tumbler slidably arranged withina hollow casing and is adapted to be conveniently manipulated by finger pressure against the resistance of helicoidal spring means appropriately retained within the casing.

Various changes may be in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantagesithereof inherent-therein.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tubular casing having spaced bearings, a tumbler slidably guided in said casing and including spaced sockets, a webportion intermediate said sockets and having an opening smaller than said socketsand communicating therewith, aloop having terminals defining a gap'and movably disposed in said bearings and extending into said sockets for removably straddling said web; and spring means for normally holding corresponding walls of said sockets yieldingly against-said terminals todispose aportion of said web adjacent said opening in saidgap and in between said terminalstoprevent the projection of said gap outside of said'casing whereby said terminals are out of alinement with. said opening.

2. In combination; a tubular casing having spaced bearings, a tumbler slidably guided in said casing and including spaced sockets, a'web portion intermediate said sockets and having an opening smaller than said sockets and communicating therewith, a loop having terminals defining a gap and movably disposed in said bearings and extending into said sockets for removably straddling said web, and spring means for normally holding corresponding walls of said sockets yieldingly against said terminals to dispose a portion of said web adjacent said opening in said gap and in between said terminals to prevent the projection of said gap outside of said casing, said tumbler having a manipulating portion normally extending outside of said casing and adapted to be shifted towards said spring and against the resistance of the latter to arrange said opening substantially in horizontal axial alinement with said terminals whereby said loop may be bodily displaced relative to said casingto arrange said gap outside of said casing.

3. In combination, a tubular casing having spaced bearings, a tumbler slidably guided in said casing and including spaced sockets, a web portion intermediate said sockets and having an opening smaller than said sockets and communicating therewith, a loop having terminals defining a gap and rotatably disposed in said bearings and extending into said sockets for removably straddling said web, and spring means for normally holding corresponding walls of said sockets yieldingly against said terminals to dispose a portion of said web adjacent said opening in said gap and in between said terminals to prevent the projection of said gap outside of said casing whereby said terminals are out of horizontal axial alinement with said opening, said tumbler having a manipulator adapted to be actuated against the resistance of said spring for shifting said portion out of straddling relation with said terminals to arrange said opening substantially in axial horizontal alinement with said terminals to permit the projection of said gap outside of said casing.

4. In combinaaion, a tubular casing having spaced bearings, a tumbler slidably guided in said casing and including spaced sockets, an attenuated web portion intermediate said sockets and havmg an opening smaller than said sockets and communicating therewith, a loop having alined terminals defining a gap and rotatably disposed 111 said bearings and extending into said sockets for removably straddling said web, and spring means confined within said casing for normally holding said sockets yieldingly against said terminals to dispose a portion of said web adjacent said opening in said gap and in between said terminals to prevent the projection of said gap outside of said casing whereby said terminals are out of horizontal axial alinement with said opening.

5. In combination, a tubular casing having spaced bearings, a tumbler vertically guided in said casing and including spaced sockets, a web portion intermediate said sockets and having an opening, a swingable loop having terminals defining a gap and rotatably disposed in said bearings and extending into said sockets for removably straddling said web, a helicoidal spring within said casing for normally holding corresponding walls of said sockets yieldingly against said terminals to dispose a portion of said web adjacent said opening in said gap and in between said terminals to prevent the projection of said gap out.- side of said casing whereby said terminals are out of horizontal axial alinement with said Ope ing, and manipulator means carried by said tumbler and in part projecting out of said casing.

6. In combination, a loop having an uninterrupted arm and an interrupted arm having spaced terminals defining a gap, a casing slidably guided by said arms, and slidable means telescopically' carried by said casing having spaced sockets for removably receiving said terminals and having an attenuated tongue intermediate said sockets and adapted to be projected into said gap to interlock with said terminals to prevent displacement of said casing to either side of said gap.

'7. In combination, a loop having an uninterrupted arm and an interrupted arm having spaced terminals defining a gap, a casing slidably guided by said arms, slidable means telescopically carried by said casing and having a slotted tongue adapted to be projected into said gap to removably interlock with said terminals to prevent dis placement of said casing to either side of said gap, and spring means within said casing to sustain said tongue interlocked with said terminals.

8. In combination, a loop havingan uninterrupted arm and an interrupted arm having spaced terminals defining a gap, a casing slidably guided by said arms, aslidable tumbler carried by said casing and having an attenuated part adapted to be removably projected into said gap to interlock With said terminals to prevent displacement of said casing to either side of said gap, and spring means within said casing and cooperating Withsaid tumbler to yieldingly retain said attenuated part interlocked with said terminals. I

9. In combination, a loop comprising an uninterrupted arm and an interrupted arm substantially parallel to said uninterrupted arm and having spaced terminals defining a gap, a casing having ends slidably and rectilinearly guided by said arms, a tumbler slidably guided by said casing and having an attenuated part adapted to be projected into said gap to interlock with said terminals to prevent displacement of said casing to either side of said gap and having an opening adapted to be shifted to be completely in alinement with said terminals'to permit said gap to be shiftedout of said casing, and spring means within said casing for resisting slidable displacement of said tumbler relative to said casing.

10. In combination, a loop having an uninterrupted arm and an interrupted arm having spaced terminals defining a gap, a casing slidably guided by said arms, slidable means telescopically carried by said casing and having spaced sockets for severally removably receiving said terminals and having a Web intermediate said sockets, said web having an opening smaller than and in communication with said sockets for severally threadably receiving said terminals, and spring means within said casing and cooperating with said slidable means for normally urging the latter towards said terminals, said slidable means adapted to be manually controlled against the resistance of said spring means for arranging said opening substantially in axial alinement with said terminals for threadably receiving one of said terminals to permit the projection of said gap outside of said casing, said casing in said axial alinement of said terminals and opening adapted to be shifted towards said gap to permit said web to enter said gap and automatically interlock said terminals to prevent displacement of said casing relative to said loop.

11. In combination, a loop having an uninterrupted arm and an interrupted arm having spaced terminals defining a gap, a casing slidably guided by said arms, slidable means carried by said casing and having spaced sockets for severally removably receiving said terminals and having an attenuated web intermediate said sockets, said web having an opening smaller than and in communication with said sockets for severally threadably receiving said terminals, and helicoidal spring means within said casing and cooperating with said slidable means for normally urging the latter towards said terminals, said slidable means adapted to be manually shifted against the resistance of said spring means for arranging said opening substantially in axial alinement with said terminals for threadably receiving one of said terminals to permit the projection of said gap from the inside to the outside of said casing, said casing in said axial alinement of said terminals and opening adapted to be shifted towards said gap to permit said web to enter said gap and automatically interlock said terminals to prevent displacement of said casing relative to said loop, said spring means automatically shifting said slidable means in a direction away from said terminals on the interlocking of the latter and said web.

12. In combination, a loop having spaced terminals defining a gap, acasing having a bore and including alined bearings removably receiving said terminals, a tumbler movably guided by the wall of said bore and in part projecting out of said casing, said tumbler having spaced sockets registering with said bearings and a web including an opening smaller than said sockets and in communication therewith, said sockets removably receiving said terminals for interlocking the latter with said web to prevent the projection of said gap out of said casing, and spring means within said bore adapted to be actuated upon manipulation of said part towards said terminals whereby said opening and terminals are disposed substantially in axial alinement to permit the projection of one of said terminals through said opening and both of said terminals out of said casing to render said gap accessible at one side of said casing.

13. In combination, a loop having spaced terminals defining a gap, a casing having an axially arranged bore and including alined bearings removably receiving said terminals, a tumbler movably guided by the wall of said bore and in part projecting out of said casing, said tumbler having spaced sockets registering with said bearings and an attenuated web including an opening relatively smaller than said sockets and in communication therewith, said sockets removably receiving said terminals to' arrange said web in said gap whereby said terminals removably straddle said web to prevent the projection of said gap out of said casing, and helicoidal spring means within said bore adapted to be actuated upon manipulation of said, part towards said bearings whereby said opening and terminals are disposed substantially in axial alinement to permit the projection of one of said terminals through said opening and both of said terminals out of said casing to render said gap accessible at one side of said casing.

SAMUEL SEGAL. 

